Average Rating:

.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: J. K. Rowling

December 04, 2008
Chorus:
Rowling is a genius
Long may her stories reign
If you're a Harry Potter fan
Join in this short refrain


"The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"
Tells of a wizard, whose
Propensity to muggle-hate
Soon made him sing the blues

"The Fountain of Fair Fortune" tells
Of witches and a knight
Who didn't need three coins at all
To set their wishes right

Chorus

Beware "The Warlock's Hairy Heart"
About a would-be twosome
His heart lies purely in the dark
(This story is quite gruesome)

Babbitty Rabbitty's cackling stump
Is really rather funny
A King who thinks he's oh so smart ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Outliers: The Story of Success

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Malcolm Gladwell

November 18, 2008
I became a fan of Gladwell with Tipping Point, and this was re-enforced with Blink, and now with Outliers he has again hit a home run. His rock solid research teamed with his effective story-telling style take the reader on a fascinating journey into the why's of successful people. I don't know to what extent his research is leading-edge; I only know that it was new to me, and I found it absolutely fascinating. I found myself reading passages then trying to relate my reality to the research he was presenting.

We all know that the over achievers tend to have arrived where they got to by paying their dues - by working hard, in most cases harder than the rest of us. Gladwell doesn't dismiss this, but he does put it in context and by ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Three Cups Of Tea

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Greg Mortenson

January 30, 2007
Every person in the world should read this story. It's an inspiring infusion of hope, a call to action embedded in humanity, creativity and perseverance. Thank you, Mr. Mortenson.

Average Rating:

.

Eclipse

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Stephenie Meyer

August 07, 2007
These books are a menace to society. You don't want to sleep, go to work, or do anything but read!!!!!

J.G.

Average Rating:

.

New Moon

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Stephenie Meyer

May 31, 2008
Though New Moon is a fluid read, it isn't as good as Twilight. And the main reason why Moon is inferior to Twilight is the character of Bella - could she be any more of a damsel in distress? She becomes so weak in this book that I couldn't understand why any of the other characters cared about her and, by book's end, I'm not sure I cared any more either.

Average Rating:

.

Breaking Dawn

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Stephenie Meyer

August 02, 2008
I'm surprised that this book recieved so many bad reviews; I absolutely loved it! I thought it was an easy, well written book that was highly addictive. I thought the plot line was fantastic and was very pleased with the ending.

What is wrong with a happily ever after ending? I think it's very refreshing. Twilight will always be my favorite, but Breaking Dawn is my second favorite.

Average Rating:

.

Twilight

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Stephenie Meyer

September 06, 2006
I picked up this book once I heard the "Twilight" series had outsold the Harry Potter books in Canada. I had been avoiding "Twilight" for three reasons: 1) it is currently a massive blockbuster creating a buying frenzy that, quite frankly, I find borders on the ridiculous. Even grandparents have heard of it and know that it's a "vampire story." I tend to shy away from books that everyone and their dog says is "awesome; 2) it appeals mainly to late teenagers and tweens; and 3) for many people in my age group (40+), including myself, Anne Rice had set the standard for vampire literature two decades ago, and I was afraid to be disappointed by Twilight in comparison to such superb works as "Interview with the Vampire" and the "Vampire Lestat."

So I finally decided to buy the first book ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Through Black Spruce

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Joseph Boyden

September 09, 2008
This is a complex and colorful tale that deals with the incredible struggles of a First Nations family's attempts to become reconciled after years of living apart and suffering alone. The novel's main setting encompasses the wilds of northern Ontario where a family has grown up learning to survive by living off the land. As they reach adulthood, the pull of the urban south enters their lives and the family draws apart.The story picks up when an uncle and niece eventually reconnect under very strange and tragic circumstances. The uncle, Willie Bird, is in a deep coma and at possibly at death's door because of a serious plane crash while the niece, Annie Bird, has come home from her desperate search for a future in her missing sister in the jungles of the big bad city. The only tangible connection between ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Shack

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: William P Young

July 01, 2008
This book drew out every emotion I had. I cried, I laughed, I was heartbroken, I was uplifted...the whole shebang. I personally loved it. I know there are those who say it is not "doctrinally sound" but I don't believe it's meant to be a book of doctrine. It's so much more than that. I found it staggering and I mulled it for days after I read it. I need to re-read it now. I gave it to a friend (and didn't tell her anything about it or it's affect on me) and lo and behold, she was as affected as I was. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone.

Average Rating:

.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Books
by: Barack Obama

August 10, 2004
Barach Obama's first book would be well worth reading, even if he were not about to become the most powerful man in the world. The book comes in three parts, in chronological order. The first part covers his first 20 years or so: Hawaii, Indonesia, then back to Hawaii, then on to college. Then next part covers several years as a "community organizer" in Chicago. The final part covers just a month or so -- a trip to Kenya to meet for the first time with his father's family. Obama's story is interesting, different and readable, even if he had gone on to be, say a law professor of no particular note in Chicago.

Instead, of course, Obama went on to be elected President of the United States, whioh makes the book ineresting on an entirely different level. Clearly, Obama has grown tremendously in ... Read More: